Knife bar shaping machine



April 3, 1934. c. E. CLEVELAND KNIFE BAR SHAPING MACHINE Filed Dec. 8,1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR FlCml.

April 3, 1934. c. E. CLEVELAND KNIFE BAR SHAPING MACHINE Filed D60. 8,1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIGR. M Q W WAX.

April 3, 1934.

INVENTOR 3 W I mg Patented Apr. 3, 1934 UNITED STATES are OFFICE 11Claims.

ihis invention relates to improvements in knife-bar shaping machinesadapted for imparting spiral formation to straight bars as is required.in the construction of such implements as lawn mowers ofthe reel type.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide an automaticallyoperating machine for spirally shaping such bars uniformly and rapidlyin successive order to facilitate manufacture of lawn mower cuttingreels and the like.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in thefollowing description.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanyingdrawings, in

151 which:-

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a machine embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation projected from Fig. 3 is a plan view of themachine;

Fig. 4 is a detail view showing a transverse section on the line x ofFigs. 1 and 3 upon an enlarged scale; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view showing a transverse section on thelines'yy'of Figs. 1 and 3.

The illustrative embodiment of the invention consists of a hollowpedestal 1 upon the top of which are disposed parallel horizontal guideways 2 spaced apart.

Disposed upon the guide-ways 2 is a carriage 3 that has longitudinalreciprocating movement thereon, each end of the carriage having securedthereon an upwardly extending bracket 4, and a platen 5, preferably ofsemi-cylindrical form provided with a trunnion 6 at each end thereof, is

mounted upon the carriage, the trunnions being supported in thecorresponding brackets 4 so that the platen has turning movementrelative to the carriage axially upon said trunnions. A spring 7 isprovided for each end of the platen that is connected at one of its endsto the corresponding head 8 of the platen and at its opposite end to theadjacent carriage bracket 4; The springs '7 have like torsional actionand tend to urge turning movement of the platen in the same directionupon the axis of its trunnions, the torque being in the directionindicated by the arrow in Fig. 2. i

The platen 5 has upon one side thereof a radi- 5O ally disposed face 9exposed upwardly and which extends spirally from one end-of the platento the other, and along the inner margin of the face 9 is formed anupwardly projecting shoulder 10.

Upon the exterior-of the platen 5, spaced 2.

suitable distance from the front end thereof and below the face 9, are apair of projecting lugs 11 in which a fulcrum. pin 12 is mounted uponwhich is pivotally supported a lever 13. One end of said lever is shortand constitutes a jaw 14, and the 9" outer end thereof projects a shortdistance past the adjacent front edge of the face 9 on the platen so asto have engagement with the outer edge of a knife-bar 15 positionedfiatwise upon the face 9 between the shoulder 10 and said jaw, so thatthe knife-bar is held therebetween when the tail 16 of said lever is inits outermost position.

The platen 5 has disposed therein a compression spring 1'7 that bearsconstantly against the tail of the lever so that outward pressure isexerted against the lever which-tends to move the jaw 14. inwardlyagainst the outer edge of the knife-bar. The tail 16 of the lever iscurved so as to conform approximately with the circumferential outerface of the platen, and has formed thereon spaced lugs 18 and 19 thatproject radially outward, with respect to the platen, which haveoperative relation severally with a prop 20 that is secured to andextends upwardly from 39 the carriage 3, which causes the tail of thelever to turn upon its pivotal support 12' inwardly in opposition to thepressure of the spring 17,WhBle-' upon the jaw 14 is moved outwardlyfrom its clamping or knife-har holding position. i

The platen 5 has in its outer wall a transverse elongated slot 21 oneend of which opens through the face 9, and into said slot projects apost22 that is secured on the carriage 3 and constitutes an ejector by whichthe l nife-bar is dislodged from its position on the face of the platenwhen the platen is turned upon its axis to a predetermined point in itsfeed or knife-bar forming stroke. 1 p

Secured to each side of the pedestal 1 are upwardly extending oppositelydisposed brackets23 in which is journaled a horizontal shaft 24 at apoint above the platen, and upon said shaft is secured a forming roller25 provided at its outer end with a radial flange 26. The face of theroller 1% 25 overhangs the face 9 on the platen and bears upon theknife-har 15 when situated thereon while the flange 26 overlaps theouter edge of said knife-bar so that said bar is thereby confined to itsposition on the platen face.

The carriage 3 has secured thereon, along one side thereof, a horizontalrack-bar 27 that meshes with a gear 28 secured on the shaft 24, so thatas the carriage reciprocates said shaft is rotated alternately inopposite directions and movement is imparted to the roller 25accordingly. The pitch circle 29 of the gear 28 corresponds in diameterwith that of the face of the roller so that the travel of thecircumferential face of the roller and that of the spiral face 9 on theplaten, during operation of the machine, are substantially the same inextent.

Reciprocal motion is impart-e to the carriage 3 by means of drivingmechanism associated with the pedestal 1. The construction of thedriving mechanism and its operating relation with the carriage 3 is suchthat upon continuous operation the carriage is driven alternately inopposite directions the full length of its strokes. The drivingmechanism herein shown, as an example, consists of a lever 30 that isvertically disposed within the pedestal and secured at its lower endtherein upon a horizontal shaft 31. The upper end of the lever 30 has anelongated vertical slot 32 in which is positioned a vertically movableblock 33, and the carriage has a pendent pair of lugs 34 in which istransversely secured a pin 35 that extends also through the block 33, sothat upon oscillation of the lever 30 the carriage is actuatedaccordingly. The middle portion of the lever 30 has another verticalelongated slot 36 therein in which is disposed a. movable cross head 37through which extends a wrist-pin 38 of a crank 39 on a horizontaldrive-shaft all that is journaled in bearings i1 and .2 convenientlyarranged in the pedestal and on an outrigger 43. The shaft 40 hassecured thereon a belt pulley 44 to which rotary motion is impar ed froma suitable source of power by means of a belt (not shown) in the usualmanner. Upon rotation of the shaft 40 oscillating movement is impartedto the lever 30 through the medium of the crank and cross-head so thatupon each revolution of the shaft the carriage is accordingly drivenlengthwise regularly to and fro throughout the length of its strokes,and also the platen 5 is caused to turn upon the axis of its trunnionsrelative to the carriage as the spiral face 9 on the platen travelsunder the roller while urged upwardly because of the torque of thesprings 7.

The knife bars 15 preliminary to their introduction into the machine arestraight flat bars of uniform length and width and are fed singly insuccessive order to the machine automatically at a definite period inthe operating cycle of the machine by means of a suitable feedingmechanism that operates synchronously with the carriage. Such feedingmechanism, here set forth as an example, consists of a hopper 45 mountedupon at elevated platform 46 which is supported upon a bracket 4.7 thatis secured to the pedestal 1. The top and bottom of the hopper i5 isopen so that when a number of flat knife-bars 15' are stacked therein,on upon another, the stack rests upon the platform d6. fire lower end ofthe front wall of the hopper 45 is spaced from the top of the platformso as to provide an opening 48 of proper proportions to permit thelowermost knifebar in the hopper to be ejected therethrough, and

.consisting of an oscillating shaft 50 which has secured at its upperend a slotted arm 51 having engagement with a pin 52 that depends fromthe feed plate 49 so that as the shaft is oscillated upon its axis thefeed plate is operated accordingly. The lower end of the shaft 50 hassecured thereon a forked arm 53 that has operative engagement with astud 54 secured on the carriage 3, the stud being so located on thecarriage and so related with the forked arm as to actuate the forked armduring the completion of the back stroke of the carriage and therebycause inward movement of the f ed plate 49 and consequent ejection ofthe lowermost of the knife bars 15' from the hopper.

A chute 5-5 is conveniently secured to the forward side of the platform46 so as to receive through its open top the knife bars from the hopperas they are ejected therefrom. The bottom of the chute extendsslantingly downward to a point adjacent the rear side of the r ller 25,and an opening 56 in the chute is provided at the lower end of thebottom thereof, so that as the knife bars are ejected from the hopperthey are directed by the chute endwise onto the face 9 of the platenagainst the roller so that as the e bars 15' are stacked in the hopper,continuous rotary the usual manner to the motion is imparted drivingpulley, whereupon the carriage is re rocated and the knife bars are fedconseouti c from the hopper through the chute onto the form us face 9immediately back of the forming roller 25 approximately at the time whenthe carriage reaches the end of its stroke. Also, when the carriagereaches the end of its backward stroke the platen turned upon its axisthrough the action of springs 7 to such position that the lever 13 ispressed inwardly by contact of lug 19 with the prop 20, and thus the jaw1 is me shoulder 16 and the jaw 14. As the carriage ,resses commencementof its forward stroke the platen is turned upon its axis hack-- wardlyin opposition to the torque of the 7, and the lug 19 on the lever ismoved from contact with the prop 20, whereupon, the jaw 14 of said leveris moved inwardly by action of the compression spring 17 that the knifebar is clamped between said jaw and shoulder, and is then drawn beneathroller n: thereby conformed to the spiral course of the platen. face 9.

During the latter part of the forward stroke of the carriage, the platenturned to ,ch position that the lug 18 on the clamp ievc. contacts withthe prop 29 causing outward movement of the jaw 14 and consequentrelease of the knife bar 15 from the platen. This action occursapproximately at the time the rear end bar passes from beneath theforming roller 25. concurrently, said bar has contact with the ejector21 whereby the bar dislodged from its position on the platen face 9after haviu Also,

been shaped thereon, and in this manner is ex- 1 polled from themachine. i The carriage and the platen are then moved idly throughthebackward stroke, atthe completion of which a second knife bar is fedfrom the hopper through the chute to the platen and the operation isrepeated untilthe supply of bars in the hopper is exhausted.

'By use of the invention, the. bars areshaped uniformly and withrapidity consistent with the endurance of the machine.

In order that the knife bars, after being shaped in the machine, shallhave such spiral pitch andlateral curvatureas to conform with theparticular design ofthe reel in which. they are to be assembled for use,the platen is prepared so that the face 9 thereon is shaped to have thedesired pitch and radius accordingly, andtthe platen is alsoproportionedto accommodate the knife bars in respect to their length.

I claim:- a

1. In a knife bar shaping machine, a pedestal having guides, a carriagehaving reciprocating movement supported on said guides and provided withend brackets, a platen supported in said brackets for turning movementupon its axis and provided with a spiral face and an upwardly projectingshoulder along the inner edge of said face, a rotatable shaft supportedadjacentsaid platen, a forming roller onaid shaft extending across saidface and provided with a radial flange that overlaps the outer edge ofsaidface, springs operatively associated. with theo-platen to imparttorque thereto about its axis and urge said face toward said roller, arack and gear mechanism associated with said carriage and shaft to causerotation of said roller reciprocallyas said carriage actuated, drivingmeans to actuate said carriage, an automatically operated mechanismassociated with said carriage for feeding knife bars onto the face ofsaid platen, a clamping meansassociated with the platen for securing andreleasing knife bars fed to the platen automatically operated as saidplaten is actuated, and an ejector disposed to automatically dislodge aknife bar from the platen face when released by said clamping means.

2. In a knife bar shaping machine, a pedestal having guides, a carriagehaving reciprocating movementsupported onsaid guides and provided withendbrackets, a platen supportedv in said brackets for turning movementupon its axis and provided with a spiral face and an upwardly projectingshoulder along the inner edge of said face, a rotatable shaft supportedadjacent said platen, a forming roller on said shaft extending acrosssaid face and provided with a radial flange that overlaps the outer edgeof said face, springs operativelyv associated with the platen to imparttorque thereto about its axis and urge said face toward said roller, arack and gear mechanism associated with said carriage and shaft to causerotation of said roller reciprocally as said carriage is actuated,driving means to actuate said carriage, an automatically operatedmechanism associated with said carriage for feeding knife bars onto theface of said platen, and a clamping means associated with the platen forsecuring and releasing knife bars fed to the platen automaticallyoperated as said platen is actuated.

3. In a knife bar shaping machine, a pedestal having guides, a carriagehaving reciprocating movement supported on said guides and provided withend brackets, a platen supported in said brackets for turning movementupon its axis and provided with a spiral face and an upwardlyprojetting. shoulder along the inner edge of said face, a rotatableshaft supported adjacent said platen, a forming roller on said shaftextending across said face and providedv with a radial flange thatoverlaps the outer edgeof said face, springs operatively .associatedwith the platen to impart torque thereto about its axis and urge saidface toward said roller, a rack and gear mechanism associated with saidcarriage and shaft to cause rotation of 1 said roller reciprocally assaid carriage is actuated, driving means to actuate said carriage anautomatically operated mechanism associated with said carriageforfeeding knife bars onto the face of said platen, and an ejector disposed.to' automatically dislodge a knife bar from the platen face whenreleased by said. clamping means.

4. In aknife bar shaping machine, a pedestal having guides, a carriagehaving reciprocating movement supported on said guides provided with endbrackets, a platen supported in said brackets for turning movement uponits axis and provided with a spiral face and an upwardly projectingshoulder along the inner edge of said face, 1

a rotatabie shaft supported adjacent said platen, a forming roller onsaid shaft extending across said face and provided with a radial flangethat overlaps the outer edge of said face, springs operativelyassociated .with the platen to impart torque thereto about its axis andurge said face toward said roller, a rack and gear mechanism associatedwith said carriage and shaftto cause rotation of said rollerreciprocallyas said carriage .is actuated, drivingmeans toactuate saidcarriage,

and an automatically operated mechanism associatedwithsaidcarriage forfeeding knife bars onto the face of said platen.

5. In a knife; bar shaping machine, a pedestal, a carriage slidablysupportedon said pedestal, an axiallyoscillating platen supported onsaid carriage and provided with a spiral forming face and anupwardlyprojecting shoulder alongthe inner edge of said face, a forming rollersupported for rotary movement, the circumferential face of whichoverhangs'the platen face and is provided with a radial flange thatoverlaps the edge of the platen face opposite said shoulder, meansassociated with the platen to urge the platen face toward thecirciunferentialface of the roller, actuating mechanism operativelyassociated with said carriage androller, so constituted that as saidcar,- riage. is actuatedthe circumferential travel of the roller andlongitudinaltravel of the. platen face are substantially equal, afeeding device for supplying knife bars to said platen face at a pointback of said roller, a mechanism associated with said carriage andfeeding device automatically operable as said carriage is actuated,means for holding a knife bar in place on said platen face while beingshaped thereon, and an automatically operable ejector for dislodgingsaid knife bar from said platen face after having been shaped thereon.

6. In a knife bar shaping machine, a pedestal,

a carriage slidably supported on said pedestal, an

axially oscillating platen supported on said carriage and provided witha spiral forming face and an upwardly projecting shoulder along theinner edge of said face, a forming roller support- 1 55% ed for rotarymovement, the circumferential face of which overhangs the platen faceand is provided with a radial flange that overlaps the edge of theplaten face opposite said shoulder, means associated with the platen tourge the platen face toward the circumfer ntial face of the roller,actuating mechan operatively associated with said carriage and roller soconstituted that as said carriage is actuated the circumferential travelof the roller and longitudinal travel of the platen face aresubstantially equal, a feeding device for supplying knife bars to saidplaten face at a point back of said roller, a mechanism associated withsaid carriage and feeding device automatically operable as said carriageis actuated, and means for holding a knife bar in place on said platenface while being sh aped thereon.

'7, In a knife bar shaping machine, a pedestal, a carriage slidahlysupported on said pedestal, an axially oscillating platen supported onsaid carriage and provided with a spiral forming face and an upwardlyprojecting shoulder along the inner edge of said face, a forming rollersupported for rotary movement, the circumferential face of whichoverhangs the platen face and is provided with a radial flange thatoverlaps the edge of the platen face opposite said shoulder, yieldingmeans associated with the platen to urge the platen face toward thecircumferential face of the roller, actuating mechanism operativelyassociated with said carriage and roller so constituted that as saidcarriage is actuated the circumferential travel of the roller andlongitudinal travel of the platen face are substantially equal, aclamping means automatically operated upon movement of the carriage forholding a knife bar in place on said platen face while being shapedthereon, and an ejector located on the carriage for dislodging saidknife bar automatically from said platen face after having been shapedthereon.

8. In a knife bar shaping machine, a pedestal, a carriage supported onsaid pedestal, an axially oscillating platen supported on said carriageand provided with a spiral forming face and an upwardly projectingshoulder along the inner edge of said face, a forming roller supportedfor rotary movement, the circumferential face of which overhangs theplaten face and is provided with a radial flange that overlaps the edgeof the platen face opposite said shoulder, yielding means ociated withthe platen to urge the platen face toward the circumferential face ofthe roller, actuating mechanism operatively associated with saidcarriage and roller so constituted that as said carriage is actuated thecircumferential travel of the roller and longitudinal travel of theplaten face are substantially equal, and automatically operable meansfor holding a knife bar in place on said platen face while being shapedthereon.

9. In a knife bar shaping machine, a pedestal, a carriage slidablysupported on said pedestal, an axially oscillating platen supported onsaid carriage and provided with a spiral forming face and upwardlyprojecting shoulder along the inner edge of said face, a forming rollersupported for rotary movement, the circumferential face of whichoverhangs the platen face and is provided with a radial flange thatoverlaps the edge of the platen face opposite said shoulder, yieldingmeans associated with the platen to urge the platen face toward thecircumferential face of the roller, and actuating mechanism operativelyassociated with said carriage and roller so constituted that as saidcarriage is actuated the circumferential travel of the roller andlongitudinal travel of the platen face are substantially equal.

10. In a knife oar shaping machine, a carriage mounted for longitudinalreciprocating movement, a platen mounted on said carriage for movementtherewith lon itudinally and rotary movement upon its axis and providedwith a spiral forming face, a fOll roller supported for rotary movement,the circumferential face of w" ich overhangs platen face, yielding meansfor applying torque to said platen about the axis thereof to urge theplaten face toward the circumferential face of the roller, mechanismassociated with the carriage and roller so constituted that uponoperation of said carriage the circumferential travel of said roller andlongitudinal travel of the platen face are substantially equal, andactuating means for said carriage.

11. In a knife bar shaping machine, a platen mounted for longitudinalreciprocating and axial turning movements, and provided with a spiralforming face, driving mechanism for imparting longitudinal movement tosaid platen, a forming roller supported for rotary movement, thecircumferential face of wh ch overhangs the platen face, means forapplying torque yieldingly to said platen about the axis thereof to urgesaid platen face toward the circumferential face of the roll- 1 er sothat longitudinal movement of the platen is accompanied by rotationthereof upon its axis, mechanism associated with the platen and rollerfor imparting movement thereto so constituted that the circumferentialtravel of saia roller and longitudinal travel of the platen face aresubstantially equal.

CHARLES E. CLEVELAND.

